Just a few short days ago Gamevil released a little Boxing game called Punch Hero, and as a fan of the sweet science I found myself spending a lot of time with the game over the weekend. That means it’s time for a review, and it’s also time to see if Punch Hero is the new King of Boxing games or just another contender…

Boxing games are a blast to play, but the controls don’t always translate well to mobile devices. I’m happy to report that’s not the case with Punch Hero as its swipe-based gestures are easy to pull off and remember. You basically tap to jab, swipe sideways to hook, and swipe up for an uppercut. You’ve also got a set of buttons that let you bob and weave while touching/holding on the screen with 2 fingers lets you block. It’s a simple setup, and all the controls were responsive on my S3, so I was able to throw jab combos with relative ease. Throwing blows and dodging may be easy, but that doesn’t mean winning fights is going to be.

Punch Hero has been a tough little game so far and if there are any Glass Joe’s in the game I haven’t run across them yet. There are around 22 different opponents in the game; each is a bit harder than the next and you’re given a score & gold based on how well you do in the match. I can only comment on the few boxers I’ve faced as the rest remain locked until you advance, but there seems to be a nice cast of characters each with different strengths and weaknesses. Overall I found opponents surprisingly tough (but beatable) and you’re going to have to use a bit of strategy instead of just firing away with punches at will. I tried that and found myself flat on my back on more than one occasion.

You’ll get to face all the characters in Arcade mode, but Punch Hero has a few other sections worth mentioning with Zombie mode, Challenger Registry, Training Center, and the Costume & Skills shops. The Training center lets you improve your skill set while the Costume & Skill shops allow you to alter your characters appearance and add special skills.

The Challenger Registry lets you put your face in the game with a pic from your camera, and it works really well… very cool to see your face in the game. Last but certainly not least you’ve got Zombie Mode, which is a quick play game of sorts against Undead opponents and League Play. I haven’t gotten to try the League feature yet as you have to defeat and dominate “Mike” and I’m still a few boxers back from reaching that goal.

Verdict

Punch Hero is an awesome Boxing game that’s easy to play and has plenty of depth to go along with a great replay factor. The only bad point I can see in the game is with the in-app/money system which seems a bit skewed as usual. The coin packages aren’t terribly expensive, but I didn’t notice any free offers this time around. Either way, if you’re looking for a great boxing game you’ve got one in Punch Hero as Gamevil really outdid themselves with this game. If you’re ready to rumble, you can head on over to Google Play and pick up Gamevil’s Punch Hero for free.